KWESI PRATT TO FONKAR: "The people of Ghana want some decency in our politics!

KWESI PRATT TO FONKAR: "The people of Ghana want some decency in our politics!

Kwesi Pratt, Jnr., in an interview with Shamima Muslim on Citi Eye Witness News, Wednesday, 9 February 2011:

Kwesi Pratt, Jnr.: First and foremost, I am a citizen of this country. And every citizen of this country ought to have an interest in who becomes President of the country. This is not the preserve of the National Democratic Congress, or FONKAR, or any other political party. All citizens must have an active interest in who becomes President of this Republic! And I am a citizen of this country!

I have not said that Nana Agyemang Rawlings should not contest the elections. I have NEVER said so! Indeed, what I have said is that she is entitled to to contest the elections. She is a Ghanaian. She is qualified under the constitution and so on.  But as a person, I feel frightened by the possibility of her becoming the President of Ghana. Now, that fear that I have expressed has been confirmed by this statement.

I mean, how can anybody issue such a vitriolic statement against another citizen simply for saying the he is not in support of one candidate? What is the crime I have committed? My crime is simply that I have stated publicly that I would be very frightened and uncomfortable about the candidature of Nana Konadu, and that I would not support her candidature, and that if I have my way, I will do whatever it takes to prevent her from becoming the President of this country. Is that a crime?

I have never insulted Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings. I have never made unfounded allegations against her. But listen to her supporters! Now, this is the kind of campaign they want to wage! Then my Goodness, they should not even start at all! Because they have lost ab initio! Because the people of Ghana are discerning!

The people of Ghana want some decency in our politics!

And the people of Ghana are not going to vote for a candidate whose supporters are out there raking mayhem on the people! And warning people not to talk about her! How can anybody make a statement to the effect that any Ghanaian journalist should not talk about any presidential candidate? Where is the democratic credential?

Shamima Muslim: They haven't quite made that, they think you, Mr. Pratt, do not have the moral authority, especially...

Kwesi Pratt, Jnr: No! And they made the statement that I should shut up about their preferred candidate, and that if I ever made any adverse comments against her, regardless of the fact that the statements I make would be founded on truth or not, they would draw blood!

Shamima Muslim: Because they think that they also have err, a filler on you?

Kwesi Pratt, Jnr.: No problem! You see, what is the problem? If there is any citizen operating in the public arena, who is as active as I am, and so on, and there is filth on that citizen, why would anybody hide that citizen? Why would anybody wait for that citizen to take a position against him, or his preferred candidate before he makes that information available?

(Transcription by the Office of the Odikro).